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February 2017

TOP THINGS TO DO IN UBUD BALI FOR FIRST VISIT - Bali is multinational destination that pretty like as a cheap destination for foreigners who look for a full of fun holiday or as simply as an escape from their hectic life, our main rival Thailand also has it all to offer; culture, nature, nightlife, from cheap to luxury, from simple to glamorous lifestyle that you can choose, but Balinese traditions is pretty much unbeatable. For the first-timer try to visit around Ubud where you can find the beautiful ancient rice terrace, unique art & culture, spiritual experience and also, humble & relax atmosphere.

I have been more than 4 times went to Ubud, and I love my visits every time, and it makes me want to go back at least every 6 months, because of the blissfulness and peacefulness, although I believe it has changed compared to 5-10 years ago, but the charm of Ubud always attract me to come back. I write you my experience to share with you if you want to visit Ubud for the first time and make it your Journey memorable; from where to stay, where to eat, where to go, where to shop, where to get a coffee in Ubud.

WHERE TO STAY IN UBUD
I suggest you stay at Alaya Resort Ubud, because of their strategic location or at least because it’s suitable for first-timer, surrounds by stores and cafes if you suddenly need something outside the hotel you will rightly find something without any confusion.

WHERE TO EAT IN UBUD
Because you stay in a strategic location you can choose to eat in their Petani Restaurant, or famous Bebek Tepi Sawah or Bebek Bengil where you can try the best spicy crispy duck, or have a 30-minutes walk to Lotus Café where you can eat with a view of the beautiful temple and lotus pond at Ubud Center. Ubud is also well-known for their wellness culture, because most of Hindu people believe that being vegetarian will affect your karma for the next reincarnation (or at least for your present life health) there are so many vegetarian or at least organic café around Ubud, one of them is Sari Organic at Bodag Maliah, although there will be some effort to reach the restaurant but I think it was worth to visit if it will be your first time in Ubud or rent a motorbike and then head to Sayan Street to having lunch or dinner at The Sayan House Ubud. Read My Ultimate Top 10 Best Restaurant in Ubud

Grilled Salmon at The Sayan House Ubud

WHERE TO GO IN UBUD
From the place you stay, it’s only 5 minutes walk to Sacred Monkey Forestwhere you can see a bunch of monkeys (of course) after that head to north to Ubud Center where you can visit one of the Ubud Royal Palace, get a view of blissful Tegallalang Rice Terrace, and after all the sweat you got, the one I suggest you that very spiritual, you can visit it on your last day is to bath at Tirta Empul Natural Spring Temple, it believes good for purification.

Tegallalang Rice Terrace

WHERE TO SHOP IN UBUD
I find that shop in Ubud is more fun compared to the other market in Bali, you can choose Ubud Art Market to buy souvenirs or laid back clothing. There are some street stores too, but I think it wills more fun to have a local style transaction at the traditional market and gets a cheaper price. But there are some well-known high-end stores you can choose like Biasa (near Neka Art Museum)

WHERE TO GET A COFFEE IN UBUD
Forget Starbucks for awhile please, there is a place that quite famous among travelers, called Seniman Coffee, but if you want to stay away from the crowds, Café Pomegranate is a good choice for your afternoon in Ubud.

When you got familiar with Ubud life, you want something quieter and do nothing at the resort because some people just want to relax and do nothing, or okay do some yoga. Yoga > Eat > Read > Sleep > Eat > Do Nothing > Read > RepEAT and that’s Bali is all about in general (at least for some people, not me, I mostly working but fun though)

Tirta Empul Natural Spring Temple at Tampaksiring

CLUB INTERCONTINENTAL JIMBARAN BALI RESORT EXPERIENCE PART II - I woke up early on the next day in InterContinental Bali Resort, because I signed up for "In The Know" program: Kedonganan Fisherman Village Bike Tour (it would be good for your health and to know more about locals activities in the morning), we mostly visited local temples and traditional markets, learn about typical Balinese house compound and know more of its unique housing design and traditional daily life. My guide Mr.Komang, even told his personal story, made the journey more personal and enjoyable, we talked about culture, religion, even politics lol

I personally familiar with the activities since I am Indonesian, but I believe you will find it a bit exotic and add value to your personal travel experience if you try this 2-hours journey by bike, to check the most Economical power area in Bali which is Jimbaran. And at the fish market, it was new experience for me to see how big the Tuna Fish is, #Amazing

After 2 hours of "work out", I just can't wait to get my breakfast and as Club Guest, you can have a private breakfast at Club Lounge, where the other guests busy with all you can eat buffet at Taman Gita Terrace. We choose the Japanese Style breakfast and InterContinental one, with fresh fruits platter, juice, and coffee as usual.

After recharge, I just enjoy my time by reading a book next to the beach. Time move so slow yet so many spots in InterContinental Bali Resort you can explore, they have 3 major swimming pools, one is for Club Guest only where you can enjoy your evening cocktails there but before that, we had lunch at Jimbaran Garden. The time was set for lunch, and it was all about seafood, click Eat at InterContinental Jimbaran Bali Resort for more pictures.

Then after, let's have fun with water before lazy of do nothing for the rest of the day. Had great experience of 2 nights stay, had an enjoyable InterContinental Signature Massage at Spa Uluwatu, where you free to use their Jacuzzi, Steam Room, and Sauna if you stay at Club Room. So the math will be Club Room = Unlimited Fun

You need 2 more nights to explore all of their hospitality like dinner at Bella Cucina Italian Find Dining Restaurant or at Ko Restaurant Teppanyaki & Cocktail Lounge, do water sport, check their boutique and inspirational spaces. Let's do it next time when I visit Jimbaran again :)

InterContinental Bali Resort

Jl. Uluwatu 45, Jimbaran Bali

+62 361 70 888

bali@ihg.com

Evening Cocktails at Club InterContinental Pool

EXPLORE PARIS LIKE A TOURIST - After explored Czech Republic with Home Credit Indonesia I thought, I had to decide to extend the trip to visit Paris, then Madrid then Barcelona for the sake of adventure lol, I had already booked the hotels but it never happened, I changed my mind and I just want to spend my extra 5 days in Paris, moreover at that time coincided with the convening of Paris Fashion Week, some people that I know will be there, so I was thinking why not to stay in Paris for the rest of my extended days.

When I thought I will do a solo travel in Paris, in fact, two girls from previous Prague Trip was also heading to Paris (well to do an every girl business, yes shopping trip), and instantly my plan was changed. Maybe God still not allowed me to do a risky solo traveling in far away country, and I thanked God because of it because Paris is more complicated than Tokyo in my opinion (I can survive and feel safe in Tokyo Metro, even walking on street at night, but Paris for the first time? I wasn't sure, but I know it was because I don't understand about the Paris Metro lol). So I actually thanked the girls, because I can explore Paris in a very memorable way. Do you want to hear the story?

I stayed in Hotel R de Paris while the girls stayed at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile. I woke up freshly and ready to go, and I was thinking to use the metro because it was walking distance to Liege Metro station from the hotel, but suddenly at the lobby, I opened my Uber App, started to order and it worked LOL (such a lazyyyy hahaha)

2. Musee de Louvre
That morning we started our exploration in Paris to the city center and touristy Musee de Louvre, Paris is the great place for you who loves history and museum. My mind was flying to one of Dan Brown's book, The Da Vinci Code. I was speechless, but unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to explore inside the museum, because of so many people there already in the queue (like so many), ya maybe next time. If you have a spare time, like the other well-known monuments, the complex of Musee de Louvre probably prettier when nightfall arrives.

Near Palais Royal Musee de Louvre, there is a famous public park Le Jardin des Tuileries. I know this park because long before I came here, it because I am former Fashion Editor, I have seen the park a lot, moreover this park is the place for street style photographers & fashion bloggers was hunting the street style photo from all fashionista around the world who were attending fashion week. So why not to visit this park and take a street style photo hashtag Outfit of the Day #OOTD lol bye

4. Paris Effiel Tower
Since you are a tourist, this is the place you need to visit and two of most favorite angle to catch the glimpse of this tower are from Jardin du Trocadero or Jardin du Champ de Mars or exploring the city by boat through Seine River.

Another touristy spot you need to visit is Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris, and since so many people visit the beautiful Cathedral, you can take a breath and have a lunch break at the nearest Paris cafe at Rue Saint-Severin.

6. Lunch at Rue Saint-Severin Paris
Walked into a small alley to look for lunch, we had a great lunch deal at one of the Parisien restos. 10 Euro for free wine, mineral water, and 3-course meal. I got myself a Moules Marinieres, it's a green mussel steamed in white wine sauce, Beef Steak or you can choose a Beef Bourguignon also called beef burgundy is a well-known traditional recipe, and one scoop of Lime Sorbet or anything chocolate for the dessert. But you can find another food stall there such as Turkish Kebab, Sweet Crepes etc

7. Shopping in La Fayette, Goyard & Champs Elysees
Well, I didn't shop but it was a great experience to accompany the girls on their shopping trip. And this pic was a Goyard situation where most people in the queue line were...... Asian :')

8. Buy Chinese Dinner near Champ Elysees
This was a tourist hack that only local or at least people who know Paris well. Cheap food that you can find near the Champ Elysees. I only paid 4 Euro for a nice home made dinner and the great thing about it, we took our dinner in the most memorable way. We eat them all while watching the Eiffel Tower radiating at night.

Most of the time, the color of Effiel Tower at night is a gold, but that night they were celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness. It was a cold night, there were a lot of people did the same thing like us, having their night with wine and we were having our homemade Chinese dinner. Je l'ai aime (?)

10. About Paris Metro
Nope, I don't know how to handle Paris Metro, sorry LOL. You need a local guide to explore Paris efficiently or you need to google a lot before and I wanna say thank you to my Paris guide @gratiaatanka for taking us around Paris and had an unforgettable Paris night picnic.The next day, I was trying to explore Paris at more suburb part of Montmartre, There is a well-known restaurant called Le Consulat (I know because Wendy @nomadicfare had told me hahaha), but since I didn't google that much, the only thing I got was spicy chicken wings from halal restaurant in Boulevard Barbes hahaha and but I finally went to Sacre-Coeur Basilica or sacred heart of Jesus Catholic Church to see Paris from above the hill on my last day in Paris.

PS: To explore Paris you can buy Paris Pass in the nearest Metro Station, and if I'm not mistaken the ticket Pass, that you can use per 1 day (not per 24 hours, and per district (?)) and valid for public transport such as MRT & Bus.